943 Gender Inequalities in Surgery: A Literature Review and Social Media Analysis.

Abstract

Abstract Aim This study identified the current barriers to women in surgery in the UK and evaluated the hashtags that are broadcast via Twitter to expose gender bias within surgery. Method A literature review was conducted using key terms to identify the barriers to women in surgery. A Twitter search was conducted via NVivo and Ncapture using keywords to identify the hashtags categorising gender bias and sexism in the surgical profession. Tweet content was qualitatively evaluated to assess gender-based inequalities in surgery in the UK. Tweets were further evaluated to identify evidence of trolling or dismissive behaviour towards surgical sexism. Results The literature review identified work-family imbalance, lack of female surgical role models, inflexibility of working hours, the gender pay gap, and female objectification as key barriers to women in surgery. Twitter analysis demonstrated evidence of surgical gender bias throughout UK surgical training using #Surgical#Sexism #HammerItOut #CutItOut and #NHSMeToo, with minimal evidence of trolling and dismissive comments. Twitter provided a platform to support and praise users that speak out against surgical gender bias, including whistleblowers. Conclusions Twitter as a social media platform can provide an environment to support users who may be experiencing gender-based bias within their surgical workplace. Twitter may also demonstrate further purpose as a useful aid in whistleblowing within healthcare.